St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1887-07-07


able to both republicans and democrats
as the chairman of committees for in
vestigation of questions, the result of
which might effect the interests of
either of the two great contending par
ties.
Judge Poland moved to st. Johns
bury in 1850, where it has really been
his home ever since, although he pur-
chased the home farm of his father-in-
law at Waterville year or two ago
and called that place his residence.
For twenty-five years from its organ
izatiOn he was president of the First
National bank, and during almost his
entire public and judicial life he has
been a resident of this town. In 1878
he represented st. Johnsbury, in the
legislature and was chairman of the
judiciary committee. He also repre-
sented Waterville last year and was
again chairman of the same committee
and leader of the house, as he always
was leader in whatever position he
was placed.
Judge Poland was twice married.
His first wife, Martha Smith Page of
Waterville, died in St. Johnsbury in
1853, leaving three children. Mary, a
brilliant young lady, died in 1865.
Martin Luther, educated at West
Point, died at Fort Yuma in 1873. Isa-
bel, the wife of Andrew E. Rankin of
ST. JOhnsbury, survives him, as does
his second wife, Adelia HI. Page, to
whom he was married in 1854. He also
left two brothers, Hon. Joseph Poland
of Montpelier and Luther Poland of
Omaha, and an older sister, Mrs. Jeffer-
son Martin of MontgOmery-his being
the first death in the family.
The Funeral.
The funeral services were at first ap
pointed for Tuesday, but owing to the
extreme heat it was deemed inexpedi-
ent to delay even that short time, and
brief services were held at the resi-
dence of his sOn-in-law, Andrew E.
Rankin, Esq, on Monday afternoon at
half-past one. Owing to this necessa-
ry haste prominent men from other
parts of the state could not be present.
A large delegation of the bar of the
county was in attendance and the law
yers of this place acted as pall-bearers.
The house and it's piazzas were filled
by neighbOrs and citizens who came to
pay their last respects to an eminent
and beloved citizen. The services
were conducted by Rev. G. NJ. Lamson,
pastor of the North Congregational
church, where Judge Poland had been
a constant and reverent attendant for
the past Sc years. After reading Sc
lectiOns of scripture a quartet, consist
ing of Mr.. and Mrs. j. HI. Humphrey,
Mrs. Abby Mcneil and Mr.. E. A. Sils-
by sung "Lead Kindly Light" Mr..
LamsOn then read the twenty-third
psalm, the beatitudes and the last por-
ton of the fifteenth chapter of First
Corinthians, and then spoke substan-
TALLY as follows:
We meet to-day not so much for
funeral as for a coronation. We bring
tributes of genuine honor to the MEM
DRY of soul that was beautiful and
strong. For many years he has shared
the life of this community, and by his
interest in us has increased our fair
fame. He sought to make our founda-
tions broad and deep and was the
guide and instructor of large and
thoughtful public life. Without seek
ing for influence he gained it by de-
serving it. This word shall best de-
scribe him to our thought, he was a
man of influence. His presence, calm,
benign, beautiful, was constant re-
buke to the unclean and cratic and
constant invitation to the pure and
broad views of life. 1t was an educa-
ton to our youth to see him and learn
the worth of manners, thought and
temperance. His mind lived in loving
familiarity with great questions. He
poured into them his personal power.
AS judge, senator, or representative,
he so dealt with laws and national pol
icies as to make them clear and just.
He was hospitable to large and diff
cult problems. He seemed at times to
welcome opposition and rose as great
birds rise by the power of the current
that sweeps against them. He seemed
to have a prophetic confidence in the
victory of broad truth-of the national
as contrasted with the local-thus time
and reflection proved to be his friends.
He could stand alone, but such was
the business of his convictions he did
not long remain alone. His public
| life teaches this and every generation
to see truth steadily and see it
whole"
But to-day our thought of the man
loving the nation more than the party,
and truth more than either, is lost in
another thought closer and more ten
der. We think of the man, not the
officer or citizen. To many of us he
was friend. We remember the hu-
NOR that gave light but never burned
the natural capacity of meeting all hu-
man worth at it's appropriate level
the firm convictions; the scriptural
simplicity of his life.
One of you says-"He was my friend
and helper" Says a lawyer-"In the
struggle of my early professional life
he was more than a mere counsellor,
he was my benefactOr." 1t was to him
religion, not to give sentiment to
masses of men, but to give hand to
individual mana hand whose grasp
had such a meaning that it was never
forgotten. He did not advertise his
sympathies, but those who felt them
think of them to-day as sacred things
in their memory. He lived a complete
life, preserving the treasures gained by
the struggle of his youth, the intellec
tual seriousness of his manhood in the |
ripeness and beauty of his age. With
capacities in him to meet every time
of life at its own level-with child
like sympathy for children-with a